29 Apr 2014 18:32:00
Hi Ed002,

Would you be able to briefly summarise the viability of building a new stadium on the Earls Court site please?

Thank You :)

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea won't be building at Earls Court.}

1.) 29 Apr 2014
Has there been any developments within the club, or decisions made about renovating SB? or are they looking to move on? Sorry if this has already been asked, but as a club we are constantly growing and have outgrown the stadium now, and under Mourinho the fan base will continually grow. Feel we need 60,000 - 65,000 seats personally.

{Ed002's Note - It is not viable to do anything at Stamford Bridge. There is nothing going on right now. Lillie Bridge Depot was look at last year and that is it.}

2.) 29 Apr 2014
I understand the situation and the issues of doing anything at the Bridge. Do you think anything will happen with Lillie Bridge and why?

Why is there no possibillity of a move to Earls Court? Sorry for all the questions, but at least I'm not asking you about our interest in strikers haha :)

Thanks

{Ed002's Note - All I know is that Lillie Bridge Depot was considered last year. Earls Court is not an option - it will be redeveloped for something else.}

3.) 29 Apr 2014
Stamford Bridge can't be expanded or redeveloped. The cost of expansion would be around £20k per seat, which would take 25 years to pay off. We'd only be able to expand to around 50-55k seats. Overall costs for expansion would be around £400-500m.

Redevelopment of of SB would require the club acquiring all the surrounding residential land, which includes housing for ex-service personnel, which would be contentious at best. Also SB sits pretty much in the middle of a conservation area, which means the redevelopment would require a decrease in the size of the conservation area. Something the council would be vehemently against. Overall cost would be £600m+.
Neither of these take into account the issue of egress and being surrounded by railway lines.

Whilst not being 100% sure about Lillie Bridge, I believe the local council have no intention of granting planning permission for a stadium, however the Mayor could possibly step in. I do believe that currently it is our best and probably only option at this point in time.